Certainly, public television is not the only game in town. Network and cable channels offer a variety of programming for children, as well. And the prevailing theme in many of these programs is one that everyone knows and supports: the ultimate triumph of good over evil. There is nothing wrong with that; we are all rooting for the good guys.

But public television children's shows grapple with conflict via problem-solving methods like negotiation and cooperation. The heroes of network and cable children's shows often employ methods to save the day — such as trickery, violence and brute force — that are not the ones we want our children to model.

While characters on one network show are doing battle against evil minions, public TV characters are struggling to do good deeds, often taking on real-life situations and calling on more positive human traits to "win" in the end.

When we — as parents and others who care about today's children — make important choices about what kids see and hear, we make them based on our values, what matters to us.

These are the values that we know matter to you, too. Which is why Wisconsin Public Television matters to you. Because children deserve our best.